Flexible self-centering roll



Sept. 30, 19158 WH. MuRscH 2,854,235

FLEXIBLE SELF-CENTERING ROLL Filed Aug. 12. 1954 2 sheets-sheet L IN VENTOR.

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FLEXIBLE SELF-CENTERING ROLL Filed Aug. 12. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2WML/AM H. MuRscH,

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United States Patent O f' FLEXIBLE SELF-CENTERING ROLL William H.Mui-sch, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Application August 12, 1954, Serial No.449,292

1 Claim. (Cl. 271-2.6)

This invention relates to an automatic self-centering roll and moreparticularly to such a roll for centering and aligning strip or a beltunder relatively low tensions and low speeds where it is desired to havea rubber surface in contact with the strip passing thereover. Otherself-centering rolls such as shown in the patents to Lorig Nos.2,593,157, 2,592,581 and 2,593,158, each dated April 15, 1952, aresuitable for centering objects under various amounts of tension. Therolls shown therein are preferably used with a fairly high tension.Also, they are not provided with a soft uninterrupted strip contactingsurface.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a self-centeringroll which can center an object passing thereover under light tension.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the roll shown in Figure 1, showing theposition thereof with a strip passing thereover;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slight modificationthereof;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a further modification;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure l in which the roll is providedwith narrow strip supporting surface;

Figure 6 is a view of still another embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 incorporating additionalself-centering features.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings,reference numeral 2 indicates spaced bearings for supporting theself-centering roll 4 of my invention. The roll 4 consists of a shaft 6,a pair of spaced apart web portions 8 mounted on the shaft 6 and ahollow rotatable rim portion 10 extending between and supported by theweb portions 8. The web portions 8 may either rotate with the shaft 6 orrotate on bearings supported on the shaft 6. The rim portion 10 is madeof rubber or other material with similar flexibility characteristics andwill henceforth be described as rubber-like material. The rubber-likerim portion 16 is preferably cemented to the web portions 8. However,where the web portions 8 are fastened to a rotating shaft the rimportion 10 can be held by compressing it between the web portions. Theroll may also be constructed by stretching the rim 10 between the webportions 8 and holding it in place by cementing it to the web portions.The outer surface 12 of the rim portion 10 is preferably crowned. When2,854,235 Patented Sept. 30, 1958 a strip S passes over the roll 4 undertension, the surface 12 in contact with the strip pulls down at with thestrip surface. That part of the surface 12 not in contact with the stripbecomes more crowned, thus expanding the surface. As the roll rotateseach increment of this expanded surface moves in toward the transversecenter of the roll and as the strip comes in contact therewith thismovement continues until it reaches a maximum. This movement with thestrip in contact therewith tends to move the strip to the center line ofthe roll. lf the roll is properly aligned the center line of the rolland strip will coincide. The web portions 8 have au outside diametersubstantially greater than the inside diameter of the rim portion 10 andare provided with an inwardly extending flange 14 which has a diametersubstantially equal to the inside diameter of the rim portion 10 so thatthe rim portion can slip thereover as shown and will be conjined betweenthe web portions 8.

The roll shown in Figure 3 is of essentially the same construction asthat shown in Figure l and like parts are given the same referencenumerals as in Figure 1. This construction is suitable for rolls oflarge diameter and/ or of great length in which the rim portion 1t)requires additional support. ln this embodiment a thin metallicsupporting member or members 16 give additional support. lf a singlemember having a central peripheral groove 18 is used it will extendcompletely around the anges 14. If a plurality of members are used theywill be spaced apart around the periphery of the flanges 14. The groove18 is provided for more iiexibility but it will be understood that astraight member may be used. The member 16 is supported on the flanges14 and in turn provides the supports for the rim portion 1t).

The embodiment shown in Figure 4 differs only slightly from that shownin Figure 3 and like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts.The rim portion 10 is provided with a central groove 20 around its innerperiphery and is given additional support by means of a pair of tubularsupporting members 22.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 a cylindrical strip supportingsurface 24 of less width than the strip S is provided centrally of therim portion 26. The roll is otherwise constructed in the same manner asthe roll in Figure 1 and like reference characters are used to indicatelike parts.

The roll of Figure 6 is identical to that of Figure 1 except that therim portion 23 is provided with a central groove 30 around its outerperiphery so as to make the roll more exible.

The roll of Figure 7 is identical to that of Figure l except that therim portion 1@ is provided with a central radial slit 32 and slits 34and 36 on each side thereof arranged in the same manner as in LorigPatent No. 2,592,581. This arrangement makes the roll more ilexible andmore powerful for centering since the slits will tend to open out on theside opposite strip contact and at the point where they make contactwith the strip they will fold in toward the center line, thus urging thestrip toward the center. In addition, this opening of the slits due tothe bending of the roll body plus the action due to centrifugal forcewill make the roll self-cleaning.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and describedit will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claim.

I claim: eter'of said rim portion, the diameter of said rim portion Aroll for automatically centering an elongated object v being greater atthe center than at the ends, said rim having a fiat base in contact withthe roll comprising a portion having a central peripheral groovetherein.

pair of spaced apart web portions, a hollow rotatable rim portion ofrubber-like material extending between 5 Y Refel'ellCeS Cited inthe le0f this patent and supported solely by said web portions, said rim beingUNITED STATES PATENTS deectable toward the axis of said roll, theoutside diameter of said web portions being substantially greater1452824 Bosworth Apr' 24 1923 1,801,396 Thatcher Apr. 21, 1931 than theinside diameter of said run portion, and an iniw'adi extenda nene en'each 5f-said web portions 10 2343363 Black et al Mar' 7 1944 Y g g Y2,592,581 Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 having 'a aiamefer surnamnfiaiiyY equal tothe ihsi'ae ldiam-

